Lily of the Valley also known, as Convallaria majalis is a native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Europe and also being distributed over Northern Asia and in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States. It is very local as a wild flower in England but very rare in Scotland and only naturalized in Ireland. Lily of the Valley is a poisonous woodland flowering plants and grows mostly in the dryer parts of woods especially ash woods which often form extensive patches and by no means peculiar to valleys though both botanical and English names implies that it is so. Lily of the Valley is associated with May 1st, international labor day in France where they sell lily of the valley as a symbol of spring. Lily of the Valley is a member of lily family with incredible sweet scents, drooping and bell-shaped flowers which is abundant throughout the month of May without extreme weather complications. In Christian legends, Lily of the Valley is known as Mary’s tears or Our Lady’s tears which comes from the crying Virgin Mary throughout the crucifixion of Jesus. Other etiologies said it originates when Eve weeps when she was driven with Adam from the Garden of Eden. In Germanic Mythology it is associated with Ostara the virgin goddess of spring where its sweet fragrance and whiteness of the flower symbolizes humility and purity of the patron goddess.
Today, Lily of the Valley is widely cultivated for commercial purposes such as wedding bouquets although it can be very expensive. Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Middleton used Lily of the Valley as her bridal bouquet. Flowers, leaves and roots of Lily of the Valley are used medicinally and its essential oil is used in aromatherapy believed to relieve depression, infuse happiness, gentleness, modesty, sweet disposition and sense of security. It has been recommended for rejuvenating a weak memory and strengthening the brain.
